US20050076604A1 - Tailored blank article with lead-in opening structure - Google Patents
Tailored blank article with lead-in opening structure Download PDFInfo
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- US20050076604A1 US20050076604A1 US10/956,762 US95676204A US2005076604A1 US 20050076604 A1 US20050076604 A1 US 20050076604A1 US 95676204 A US95676204 A US 95676204A US 2005076604 A1 US2005076604 A1 US 2005076604A1
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- lead
- opening
- tailored blank
- blank article
- opening structure
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
- B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
- B62D25/081—Cowls
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
- B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
- B62D25/14—Dashboards as superstructure sub-units
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to a vehicle body part or article formed from a tailor-welded blank (also called “tailored blank”) consisting of two metal plates with different thicknesses butt-welded together to form a stepped portion or step along a butt-joint therebetween, and more particularly to such a tailored blank article having an opening extending over the two metal plates across the step for the passage therethrough of a cup-shaped lead-in member attached to the tailored blank article.
- a tailor-welded blank also called “tailored blank”
- a tailored blank is used to form a dashboard lower panel of a vehicle body structure.
- the dashboard lower panel 101 is a partition wall separating a passenger room 102 and an engine room 103 .
- the dashboard lower panel 101 is formed from a tailored blank consisting of a thick metal plate 104 and a thin metal plate 106 joined at one end 105 , 107 by mash-seam welding.
- the dashboard lower panel (i.e., tailored blank article) 101 has an opening 116 formed therein for introducing a vehicle part from the engine room side into the passenger room side.
- the opening 116 extends over the thick and thin metal plates 104 , 106 across a welded portion 108 .
- FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXC-IXC of FIG. 9A .
- a cup-shaped lead-in member 118 is attached to the outer surface 111 of the dashboard lower panel 101 with a seal 117 disposed therebetween so as to cover the opening 116 from the engine room side.
- the cup-shaped lead-in member 118 and the opening 116 together form an opening structure 115 .
- the dashboard lower panel 101 having such opening structure 115 has a problem that when the engine room 103 is washed by means of water, water may leak into the passenger room side from a mating surface between the seal 117 and a step formed along the welded portion 108 of the dashboard lower panel 101 .
- an object of the present invention to provide a tailored blank article having a lead-in opening structure, which is free from water leakage even through a lead-in opening is located at a step formed along a butt-joint between two metal plates with different thicknesses of the tailored blank article.
- a tailored blank article comprising two metal plates with different thicknesses butt-welded together to form a step on one surface of the tailored blank article along a butt-joint between the two metal plates, and a lead-in opening structure for introducing a lead-in element from one side to the other side of the tailored blank article.
- the lead-in opening structure includes an opening formed in the tailored blank article so as to extend over the two metal plates across the step, a recessed portion formed in the one surface of the tailored blank article along a peripheral edge of the opening, a sealing material filled in the recessed portion to undergo leveling of the peripheral edge of the opening including the step, and a seal plate of a configuration generally corresponding in contour to the shape of the opening, the seal plate covering the sealing material and being attached to the two metal plates.
- the peripheral edge of the opening including the step is leveled by the sealing material filled in the recessed portion formed in the stepped surface of the tailored blank article along the peripheral edge of the opening, it is possible to attach the seal plate to the tailored blank article with increased stability. Furthermore, the sealing material disposed between the recessed portion of the dashboard and the seal plate makes the lead-in opening structure watertight. By thus providing the watertight lead-in opening structure, leakage of water or other liquid from the engine room side to the passenger compartment side does never occur during washing of the engine room.
- the seal plate has a tubular lip fitted with the peripheral edge of the opening, and a flat seat portion integral with the tubular lip and forming an end flange of the tubular lip, the flat seat portion extending over the sealing material and being attached to the two metal plates.
- the tailored blank article may further comprise a seal ring and a generally cup-shaped lead-in member having an end flange at an open end thereof.
- the cup-shaped lead-in member is assembled with the lead-in opening structure with the seal ring disposed between the flat seat portion of the seal plate and the end flange of the cup-shaped lead-in member.
- the flat seat portion of the seal plate facilitates easy and stable assembly of the cup-shaped lead-in member and the lead-in opening structure with the seal ring held between the flat seat portion and an end flange of the cup-shaped lead-in member.
- the seal ring improves the water-tightness of a lead-in port assembly formed jointly by the lead-in opening structure and the cup-shaped lead-in member.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut-away for clarity, of an vehicle body in which a tailored blank article having a lead-in opening structure according to the present invention is incorporated;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front body incorporating therein the lead-in opening structure
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view in a direction of the arrow III shown in FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a lead-in port assembly in which the lead-in opening structure-is incorporated;
- FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lead-in opening structure
- FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the manner in which a flanged cup-shaped lead-in member is assembled with the lead-in opening structure of the present invention.
- FIG. 9A is perspective view showing a conventional dashboard lower panel formed from a tailored blank and having a lead-in opening located at a weld joint between two metal plates with different thicknesses.
- FIG. 1 there is shown a vehicle body in which a tailored blank article having a lead-in opening structure according to the present invention is incorporated.
- the vehicle body 12 includes an under body 14 forming a floor of a passenger compartment 13 , and a front body 15 contiguous with and extending forwardly from a front end of the under body 14 .
- the front body 15 has an engine room 16 and a hood structure or assembly 17 .
- the hood assembly 17 includes a hood panel 21 pivotally connected at a rear end thereof to vehicle body via a pair of hood hinges 22 , 22 to undergo vertical pivotal movement about the hood hinges 22 , 22 for opening and closing the engine room 16 .
- the hood assembly 17 also includes a plurality of hood cushions 25 provided on an upper frame 24 of a bulkhead 23 for engagement with a front end of the hood panel 21 so as to absorb in impact force when the hood panel 21 is closed.
- the under body 14 includes a front floor 27 and a rear floor 31 contiguous with and extending rearward from a rear end of the front floor 27 .
- the rear floor 27 has a spare tire accommodation space 32 .
- Numeral 33 shown in FIG. 1 denotes an exhaust system disposed below the rear floor 31 .
- the front body 15 includes a dashboard 35 disposed between the engine room 16 and the passenger compartment 13 , a pair of front side frames 36 , 36 connected at rear ends to the dashboard 35 , the bulkhead 23 connected at front ends of the front side frames 36 , 36 , and front fenders 37 , 37 connected to the respective side frames for covering upper portions of left and right front wheels (not shown).
- the dashboard 35 is equipped with a lead-in part assembly 38 .
- the dashboard 35 is formed from a tailored blank 41 consisting of two metal plates 42 , 43 with different thicknesses t 1 , t 2 butt-welded together to form a stepped portion or step 44 at one side (passenger compartment side) thereof.
- the dashboard 35 is thus a tailored blank article.
- the dashboard (tailored blank article) 35 has an opening 46 (best shown in FIG. 7 ) formed therein and extending over the two metal plates 42 , 43 across the step 44 .
- the thickness t 1 of the upper (first) metal plate 42 is smaller than the thickness t 2 of the lower (second) metal plate 43 .
- the opening 46 may be formed either before or after the two metal plates 42 , 43 are welded together into a tailored blank.
- the metal plates 42 , 43 each have a cut-out portion 51 , 52 ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ) at one side thereof, and when they are welded together, the cut-out portions are held in confrontation with each other.
- the step 44 of the dashboard 35 extends along a butt-joint 45 between the upper metal plate 42 and the lower metal plate 43 .
- the butt-joint may be formed by butt-welding or laser-welding.
- the lead-in port assembly 38 generally comprises a lead-in opening structure 56 including the opening 46 , a seal ring 57 of an elastic material disposed on the lead-in opening structure 56 , and a cup-shaped lead-in member 58 mounted to the lead-in opening structure 56 with the elastic seal ring 57 disposed in a compressed state between the lead-in opening structure 56 and the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 .
- Numeral 61 denotes mounting pins provided on an inner surface (facing the passenger compartment) of the dashboard 35 for attachment of the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 to the dashboard 35 .
- the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 includes a generally cup-shaped body 62 press-formed from a steel sheet and having an annular flange at an open end thereof, and a rubber boot 64 attached to a sidewall of the body 62 for sealing and guiding a part of a lead-in element (indicated by phantom line shown in FIG. 4 ) that is introduced from the engine room side into the cup-shaped body 62 through an opening 62 a formed in the sidewall of the cup-shaped body 62 .
- the lead-in element 65 is then introduced into the passenger compartment 13 .
- the lead-in opening structure 56 includes the opening 46 formed in the dashboard 35 in the manner described above, a recessed portion 68 formed in the inner surface of the dashboard 35 along a peripheral edge 46 of the opening 46 , a sealing material 71 filled in the recessed portion 68 , and a generally ring-like seal plate 72 covering the sealing material 71 and mounted to the dashboard 35 .
- the recessed portion 48 has a width W and a depth H that are uniform throughout the periphery of the opening 46 .
- the amount of sealing material 71 filled in the recessed portion 48 is determined such that an upper surface of the sealing material 71 is at least flush with, and preferably projects from, an upper surface of the step 44 .
- the sealing material 71 may be filled in the recessed portion 48 by means of a suitable seal application device or applicator (not shown) operated to move in a direction indicated by the arrows b and c.
- the seal plate 72 is formed from a steel plate into a configuration corresponding in contour to the shape of the opening 46 .
- the seal plate 72 has a flat seat portion 73 extending over the seal member 71 and a tubular lip 74 fitted with the peripheral edge 46 of the opening 46 .
- the flat seat portion 73 forms an end flange of the tubular lip 74 .
- the dashboard 35 is disposed horizontally with the recessed portion 68 of the opening 46 facing upward. Then the sealing material 71 is filled in the recessed portion 68 until an upper surface of the sealing material 71 is at least flush with, and preferably projects from, an upper surface of the step 44 . Subsequently, the seal plate 72 is placed over the sealing material 71 with the tubular lip 72 thereof fitted with the peripheral edge 67 of the opening 46 . Finally, the seal plate 72 is spot-welded to the dashboard 35 as at 75 ( FIG. 4 ) with the sealing material 71 is disposed, preferably in a compressed state, between the recessed portion 68 and the flat seat portion (end flange) 72 of the seal plate 72 .
- the lead-in opening structure 56 thus assembled is made watertight and provides a flat seat portion 73 , which is particularly advantageous for easy and stable attachment of the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 to the dashboard 35 .
- the flat seat portion 73 preferably has a predetermined degree of surface roughness for the purpose of providing a certain gripping force relative to the sealing material 71 and the seal ring 57 when it is brought into contact with or forced against the sealing material 71 and the seal ring 57 .
- the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 is fitted into the lead-in opening structure 56 with the seal ring 57 disposed between the flat seat portion 73 of the seal plate 72 and a rear surface 76 of the flange 63 of the body 62 of the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 , and the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 is attached to the dashboard 35 by means of the mounting pins 61 and sleeves 80 press-fitted with the respective mounting pins 61 with portions of the flange 63 firmly cramped therebetween.
- the thus assembled lead-in opening structure 56 and cup-shaped lead-in member 58 together form the lead-in port assembly 38 .
- the dashboard (tailored blank article) 35 has a lead-in opening structure 56 for introducing a lead-in element 65 ( FIG. 4 ) from an engine room side to a passenger room side of the dashboard 35 .
- the lead-in opening structure 56 includes an opening 46 formed in the dashboard 35 so as to extend over two metal plates 42 , 43 with different thicknesses across a step 44 formed on one surface of the dashboard 35 along a butt-joint 45 between the two metal plates 42 , 43 .
- the lead-in opening structure 56 further includes a recessed portion 68 formed in the one surface of the dashboard 35 along a peripheral edge 67 of the opening 46 , a sealing material 71 filled in the recessed portion 68 to undergo leveling of the peripheral edge 67 of the opening 46 including the step 44 , and a seal plate 72 of a configuration corresponding in contour to the shape of the opening 46 , covering the sealing material 71 , and being attached to the dashboard 35 .
- the peripheral edge 67 of the opening 46 including the step 44 is leveled by the sealing material 71 filled in the recessed portion 68 formed in the stepped surface of the dashboard 35 along the peripheral edge 67 , it is possible to attach the seal plate 72 to the dashboard 35 with increased stability. Furthermore, the sealing material 71 disposed between the recessed portion 68 of the dashboard 35 and the seal plate 72 makes the lead-in opening structure 56 watertight. By thus providing the watertight lead-in opening structure 56 , leakage of water or other liquid from the engine room side to the passenger compartment side does never occur during washing of the engine room 16 .
- the flat seat portion 73 of the seal plate 72 facilitates easy and stable assembly of the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 relative to the lead-in opening structure 56 with the seal ring 57 held between the flat seat portion 73 and an end flange 76 of the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 .
- the seal ring 57 improves the water-tightness of a lead-in port assembly 38 formed jointly by the lead-in opening structure 56 and the cup-shaped lead-in member 58 .
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
- Automobile Manufacture Line, Endless Track Vehicle, Trailer (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to a vehicle body part or article formed from a tailor-welded blank (also called “tailored blank”) consisting of two metal plates with different thicknesses butt-welded together to form a stepped portion or step along a butt-joint therebetween, and more particularly to such a tailored blank article having an opening extending over the two metal plates across the step for the passage therethrough of a cup-shaped lead-in member attached to the tailored blank article.
- In the manufacture of an automobile body, plural pieces of steel plate are welded together to form a blank that is well tailored for a subsequent processing operation, such as press-forming. The blank is generally called “tailor-welded blank” or “tailored blank”. By using the tailored blank process, it is possible to weld together a variety of materials of different thickness, tensile strength and so on.
- In one application shown in Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication (JP-A) No. 2003-19979, a tailored blank is used to form a dashboard lower panel of a vehicle body structure. The dashboard
lower panel 101, as shown inFIG. 9A hereof, is a partition wall separating apassenger room 102 and anengine room 103. The dashboardlower panel 101 is formed from a tailored blank consisting of athick metal plate 104 and athin metal plate 106 joined at oneend opening 116 formed therein for introducing a vehicle part from the engine room side into the passenger room side. Theopening 116 extends over the thick andthin metal plates welded portion 108. - As shown in
FIG. 9B , the dashboardlower panel 101 has anouter surface 103 facing the engine room 103 (FIG. 9A ), and anend flange 112 of a front side frame is attached to theouter surface 103. Similarly, aninsulator panel 113 is attached to aninner surface 109 of the dashboardlower panel 101. The inner andouter surfaces lower panel 101 are coated withpaint film layers -
FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view taken along line IXC-IXC ofFIG. 9A . As shown in this figure, a cup-shaped lead-inmember 118 is attached to theouter surface 111 of the dashboardlower panel 101 with aseal 117 disposed therebetween so as to cover theopening 116 from the engine room side. The cup-shaped lead-inmember 118 and the opening 116 together form anopening structure 115. - The dashboard
lower panel 101 havingsuch opening structure 115 has a problem that when theengine room 103 is washed by means of water, water may leak into the passenger room side from a mating surface between theseal 117 and a step formed along thewelded portion 108 of the dashboardlower panel 101. - It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a tailored blank article having a lead-in opening structure, which is free from water leakage even through a lead-in opening is located at a step formed along a butt-joint between two metal plates with different thicknesses of the tailored blank article.
- To achieve the foregoing object, there is provided according to the present invention a tailored blank article comprising two metal plates with different thicknesses butt-welded together to form a step on one surface of the tailored blank article along a butt-joint between the two metal plates, and a lead-in opening structure for introducing a lead-in element from one side to the other side of the tailored blank article. The lead-in opening structure includes an opening formed in the tailored blank article so as to extend over the two metal plates across the step, a recessed portion formed in the one surface of the tailored blank article along a peripheral edge of the opening, a sealing material filled in the recessed portion to undergo leveling of the peripheral edge of the opening including the step, and a seal plate of a configuration generally corresponding in contour to the shape of the opening, the seal plate covering the sealing material and being attached to the two metal plates.
- Since the peripheral edge of the opening including the step is leveled by the sealing material filled in the recessed portion formed in the stepped surface of the tailored blank article along the peripheral edge of the opening, it is possible to attach the seal plate to the tailored blank article with increased stability. Furthermore, the sealing material disposed between the recessed portion of the dashboard and the seal plate makes the lead-in opening structure watertight. By thus providing the watertight lead-in opening structure, leakage of water or other liquid from the engine room side to the passenger compartment side does never occur during washing of the engine room.
- Preferably, the seal plate has a tubular lip fitted with the peripheral edge of the opening, and a flat seat portion integral with the tubular lip and forming an end flange of the tubular lip, the flat seat portion extending over the sealing material and being attached to the two metal plates. By thus forming the seal plate, it is possible to stably hold the sealing material within the recessed portion.
- The tailored blank article may further comprise a seal ring and a generally cup-shaped lead-in member having an end flange at an open end thereof. The cup-shaped lead-in member is assembled with the lead-in opening structure with the seal ring disposed between the flat seat portion of the seal plate and the end flange of the cup-shaped lead-in member.
- The flat seat portion of the seal plate facilitates easy and stable assembly of the cup-shaped lead-in member and the lead-in opening structure with the seal ring held between the flat seat portion and an end flange of the cup-shaped lead-in member. The seal ring improves the water-tightness of a lead-in port assembly formed jointly by the lead-in opening structure and the cup-shaped lead-in member.
- A preferred structural embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail herein below, by way of example only, with the reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with parts cut-away for clarity, of an vehicle body in which a tailored blank article having a lead-in opening structure according to the present invention is incorporated; -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a front body incorporating therein the lead-in opening structure; -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view in a direction of the arrow III shown inFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 6 is an exploded cross-sectional view of a lead-in port assembly in which the lead-in opening structure-is incorporated; -
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the lead-in opening structure; -
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the manner in which a flanged cup-shaped lead-in member is assembled with the lead-in opening structure of the present invention; and -
FIG. 9A is perspective view showing a conventional dashboard lower panel formed from a tailored blank and having a lead-in opening located at a weld joint between two metal plates with different thicknesses. - Referring now to the drawings and
FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown a vehicle body in which a tailored blank article having a lead-in opening structure according to the present invention is incorporated. - The
vehicle body 12 includes an underbody 14 forming a floor of apassenger compartment 13, and afront body 15 contiguous with and extending forwardly from a front end of the underbody 14. Thefront body 15 has anengine room 16 and a hood structure orassembly 17. - The
hood assembly 17 includes ahood panel 21 pivotally connected at a rear end thereof to vehicle body via a pair ofhood hinges hood hinges engine room 16. Thehood assembly 17 also includes a plurality ofhood cushions 25 provided on anupper frame 24 of abulkhead 23 for engagement with a front end of thehood panel 21 so as to absorb in impact force when thehood panel 21 is closed. - The
under body 14 includes afront floor 27 and arear floor 31 contiguous with and extending rearward from a rear end of thefront floor 27. Therear floor 27 has a sparetire accommodation space 32. Numeral 33 shown inFIG. 1 denotes an exhaust system disposed below therear floor 31. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thefront body 15 includes adashboard 35 disposed between theengine room 16 and thepassenger compartment 13, a pair offront side frames dashboard 35, thebulkhead 23 connected at front ends of thefront side frames front fenders dashboard 35 is equipped with a lead-inpart assembly 38. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thedashboard 35 is formed from a tailored blank 41 consisting of twometal plates step 44 at one side (passenger compartment side) thereof. Thedashboard 35 is thus a tailored blank article. The dashboard (tailored blank article) 35 has an opening 46 (best shown inFIG. 7 ) formed therein and extending over the twometal plates step 44. The thickness t1 of the upper (first)metal plate 42 is smaller than the thickness t2 of the lower (second)metal plate 43. - The opening 46 may be formed either before or after the two
metal plates metal plates portion 51, 52 (FIGS. 6 and 7 ) at one side thereof, and when they are welded together, the cut-out portions are held in confrontation with each other. - The
step 44 of thedashboard 35 extends along a butt-joint 45 between theupper metal plate 42 and thelower metal plate 43. The butt-joint may be formed by butt-welding or laser-welding. - As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 the lead-in
port assembly 38 generally comprises a lead-inopening structure 56 including theopening 46, aseal ring 57 of an elastic material disposed on the lead-inopening structure 56, and a cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 mounted to the lead-inopening structure 56 with theelastic seal ring 57 disposed in a compressed state between the lead-inopening structure 56 and the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58.Numeral 61 denotes mounting pins provided on an inner surface (facing the passenger compartment) of thedashboard 35 for attachment of the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 to thedashboard 35. The cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 includes a generally cup-shapedbody 62 press-formed from a steel sheet and having an annular flange at an open end thereof, and arubber boot 64 attached to a sidewall of thebody 62 for sealing and guiding a part of a lead-in element (indicated by phantom line shown inFIG. 4 ) that is introduced from the engine room side into the cup-shapedbody 62 through anopening 62 a formed in the sidewall of the cup-shapedbody 62. The lead-inelement 65 is then introduced into thepassenger compartment 13. - As best shown in
FIG. 7 , the lead-inopening structure 56 includes theopening 46 formed in thedashboard 35 in the manner described above, a recessedportion 68 formed in the inner surface of thedashboard 35 along aperipheral edge 46 of theopening 46, a sealingmaterial 71 filled in the recessedportion 68, and a generally ring-like seal plate 72 covering the sealingmaterial 71 and mounted to thedashboard 35. The recessed portion 48 has a width W and a depth H that are uniform throughout the periphery of theopening 46. The amount of sealingmaterial 71 filled in the recessed portion 48 is determined such that an upper surface of the sealingmaterial 71 is at least flush with, and preferably projects from, an upper surface of thestep 44. The sealingmaterial 71 may be filled in the recessed portion 48 by means of a suitable seal application device or applicator (not shown) operated to move in a direction indicated by the arrows b and c. Theseal plate 72 is formed from a steel plate into a configuration corresponding in contour to the shape of theopening 46. Theseal plate 72 has aflat seat portion 73 extending over theseal member 71 and atubular lip 74 fitted with theperipheral edge 46 of theopening 46. Theflat seat portion 73 forms an end flange of thetubular lip 74. - In assembly of the lead-in
opening structure 56, thedashboard 35 is disposed horizontally with the recessedportion 68 of theopening 46 facing upward. Then the sealingmaterial 71 is filled in the recessedportion 68 until an upper surface of the sealingmaterial 71 is at least flush with, and preferably projects from, an upper surface of thestep 44. Subsequently, theseal plate 72 is placed over the sealingmaterial 71 with thetubular lip 72 thereof fitted with theperipheral edge 67 of theopening 46. Finally, theseal plate 72 is spot-welded to thedashboard 35 as at 75 (FIG. 4 ) with the sealingmaterial 71 is disposed, preferably in a compressed state, between the recessedportion 68 and the flat seat portion (end flange) 72 of theseal plate 72. Even though the presence of thestep 44 in the dashboard (tailored blank article) 35, the lead-inopening structure 56 thus assembled is made watertight and provides aflat seat portion 73, which is particularly advantageous for easy and stable attachment of the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 to thedashboard 35. Theflat seat portion 73 preferably has a predetermined degree of surface roughness for the purpose of providing a certain gripping force relative to the sealingmaterial 71 and theseal ring 57 when it is brought into contact with or forced against the sealingmaterial 71 and theseal ring 57. - Subsequently, as shown in
FIG. 8 , the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 is fitted into the lead-inopening structure 56 with theseal ring 57 disposed between theflat seat portion 73 of theseal plate 72 and arear surface 76 of theflange 63 of thebody 62 of the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58, and the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 is attached to thedashboard 35 by means of the mounting pins 61 andsleeves 80 press-fitted with the respective mounting pins 61 with portions of theflange 63 firmly cramped therebetween. The thus assembled lead-inopening structure 56 and cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 together form the lead-inport assembly 38. - As thus far described, the dashboard (tailored blank article) 35 has a lead-in
opening structure 56 for introducing a lead-in element 65 (FIG. 4 ) from an engine room side to a passenger room side of thedashboard 35. The lead-inopening structure 56 includes anopening 46 formed in thedashboard 35 so as to extend over twometal plates step 44 formed on one surface of thedashboard 35 along a butt-joint 45 between the twometal plates opening structure 56 further includes a recessedportion 68 formed in the one surface of thedashboard 35 along aperipheral edge 67 of theopening 46, a sealingmaterial 71 filled in the recessedportion 68 to undergo leveling of theperipheral edge 67 of theopening 46 including thestep 44, and aseal plate 72 of a configuration corresponding in contour to the shape of theopening 46, covering the sealingmaterial 71, and being attached to thedashboard 35. - Since the
peripheral edge 67 of theopening 46 including thestep 44 is leveled by the sealingmaterial 71 filled in the recessedportion 68 formed in the stepped surface of thedashboard 35 along theperipheral edge 67, it is possible to attach theseal plate 72 to thedashboard 35 with increased stability. Furthermore, the sealingmaterial 71 disposed between the recessedportion 68 of thedashboard 35 and theseal plate 72 makes the lead-inopening structure 56 watertight. By thus providing the watertight lead-inopening structure 56, leakage of water or other liquid from the engine room side to the passenger compartment side does never occur during washing of theengine room 16. - Furthermore, the
flat seat portion 73 of theseal plate 72 facilitates easy and stable assembly of the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58 relative to the lead-inopening structure 56 with theseal ring 57 held between theflat seat portion 73 and anend flange 76 of the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58. Theseal ring 57 improves the water-tightness of a lead-inport assembly 38 formed jointly by the lead-inopening structure 56 and the cup-shaped lead-inmember 58. - Obviously, various minor changes and modifications are possible in the light of the above teaching. It is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims (3)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2003-349277 | 2003-10-08 | ||
JP2003349277A JP4005549B2 (en) | 2003-10-08 | 2003-10-08 | Opening structure of automobile dashboard made of tailored blank |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050076604A1 true US20050076604A1 (en) | 2005-04-14 |
US7052078B2 US7052078B2 (en) | 2006-05-30 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/956,762 Expired - Fee Related US7052078B2 (en) | 2003-10-08 | 2004-10-01 | Tailored blank article with lead-in opening structure |
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US (1) | US7052078B2 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4005549B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1321032C (en) |
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WO2008000983A1 (en) | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Renault S.A.S. | Structure part obtained via butt-joining for motor vehicle |
EP2165906A1 (en) * | 2008-09-19 | 2010-03-24 | Bombardier Transportation GmbH | Railway vehicle body and method for its manufacture |
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JP3974567B2 (en) * | 2003-10-08 | 2007-09-12 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Front body structure of automobile |
DE102006057864A1 (en) * | 2006-12-08 | 2008-07-17 | GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit | Composite of two steel sheets |
CN101695940B (en) * | 2009-10-12 | 2011-03-23 | 力帆实业(集团)股份有限公司 | Fixed cover of oil filler cover assembly |
JP5504974B2 (en) * | 2010-02-26 | 2014-05-28 | スズキ株式会社 | Junction structure |
FR3020793B1 (en) * | 2014-05-07 | 2016-10-21 | Renault Sa | FRONT APRON FOR MOTOR VEHICLE. |
WO2018135245A1 (en) * | 2017-01-20 | 2018-07-26 | 本田技研工業株式会社 | Vehicle body front structure |
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WO2007095911A1 (en) * | 2006-02-25 | 2007-08-30 | Ford Werke Gmbh | Chassis seal for a steering column duct |
WO2008000983A1 (en) | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-03 | Renault S.A.S. | Structure part obtained via butt-joining for motor vehicle |
FR2903070A1 (en) | 2006-06-28 | 2008-01-04 | Renault Sas | STRUCTURE PIECE OBTAINED BY RABOUTING FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE |
EP2165906A1 (en) * | 2008-09-19 | 2010-03-24 | Bombardier Transportation GmbH | Railway vehicle body and method for its manufacture |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1605524A (en) | 2005-04-13 |
JP2005112168A (en) | 2005-04-28 |
JP4005549B2 (en) | 2007-11-07 |
CN1321032C (en) | 2007-06-13 |
US7052078B2 (en) | 2006-05-30 |
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